Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 28 March 2014

BBC News

• Eurostar trains halted by lightningHundreds of Eurostar passengers suffer delays as a result of a lightning strike near the line in Kent.
• Crossrail plans extended to ReadingPlans to extend Crossrail scheme to Reading are announced by the government.

Financial Times

• ANA deal loosens Boeing’s grip on JapanUS aircraft maker’s dominance of Japanese market has hit further turbulence after rival jet maker Airbus split a $16.6bn order for 70 new aircraft
• Bad weather hampers search for MH370Thai satellite images show large number of objects in southern Indian Ocean, close to two earlier sets of debris, as search for missing jet continues
• EasyJet signs deal to expand at GatwickEasyJet cements its position as the biggest airline at Gatwick airport with a seven-year deal to expand in return for lower charges
• London mayor criticises cost of HS2Mayors comments likely to infuriate senior Tory ministers who have fought to keep project on track despite criticism from across political spectrum
• Crossrail route to be extended to ReadingThames Valley residents will be able to take new train service to central London and farther east to Docklands and Essex without transferring to Tube

The Guardian

• London City airport runway closed after plane engine 'blew up'Four people needed treatment for minor injuries after Geneva-bound LX437 suffered an engine problemAn engine blew up on an airliner seconds before it was due to leave London City airport, a passenger has said.Four people needed treatment for minor injuries after Geneva-bound LX437 with 74 passengers and four crew on board suffered an engine problem, airport authorities said.

The Herald

• Fresh calls for re-regulation of Glasgow busesA SURVEY which found customer satisfaction with buses in Glasgow lags well behind those in the capital has sparked renewed calls for re-regulation of the industry.
• Cargo vessel operator fined for crash as crew all slept on North Sea voyageTHE operator of a cargo vessel which sailed across the North Sea with alarms switched off and the crew asleep for 90 minutes before crashing into a wildlife haven has been fined £60,000.

The Scotsman

• Virgin ahead of BA in Edinburgh-London punctualityVIRGIN Atlantic flights on Scotland’s busiest air route between Edinburgh and Heathrow were twice as punctual as rival British Airways last year, new figures showed.

The Telegraph

• Lightning strike causes delays for hundreds of Eurostar passengersA lightning strike in Kent which caused a building to catch fire caused delays of more than four hours for hundreds of Eurostar passengers travelling to the UK    

Mail Online

• Government awards controversial £633m 'follow on' train franchiseUnder the deal Northern Rail Ltd - which has operated the lines for a decade - will carry on running trains across the north of England until February 2016.

The Mirror

• Missing plane recap: Thai satellite spots 300 floating objects near search area for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370Severe ice, severe turbulence and zero visibility has halted today's search for a possible

Network Rail

• Hastings-Tonbridge rail line to reopenAfter weeks of round-the-clock work, Network Rail engineers are on track to re-open the full length of the Hastings to Tonbridge railway line to passengers next week.

Birmingham Post

• HS2 petitions 'dreamt up to delay process', MP claimsIt was vital that when considering the HS2 Bill that Parliament distinguished between these

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• More people in Bradford are cycling to work Fewer than one in every hundred commuters use a bike to get to work in the Bradford district but it is on the rise, according to new figures.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post commented Reader's letter: HS2 will cost us but we will see no benefitTHE Government seems determined to press ahead with the HS2 white elephant. The original reason given for HS2 was to knock 20 minutes off the journey time between the Midlands and London. When that reason was not well received by the public, the proponents of HS2 discovered that the "real" reason was to tackle a lack of capacity.The key question is whether HS2 is the best way of spending £50 billion (or possibly £80 billion). The project will take decades to complete and be...

London Evening Standard

• Crossrail will be extended to ReadingMillions more commuters will enjoy the benefits of Crossrail as the £15 billion link is to be extended further west to Reading, it was announced today.
• Passengers injured as plane engine blows up during take-off at London City AirportAn engine blew up on an airliner seconds before it was due to leave London City Airport today, a passenger said.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Metro starts trials of pay-as-you-go smartcardsMetro operators Nexus have begun trials of its first “pay as you go” card

Northern Echo

• Franchise extension for Northern Rail will come with £632m Government subsidy NORTHERN Rail will receive a £632m Government subsidy after signing a 22-month extension to its current franchise contract.

Sheffield Star

• British Transport Police appeal after railway lighting tower stolen from DoncasterThieves have stolen a railway lighting tower from Doncaster.

The York Press

• York slips from 3rd to 5th in commuter cycling league table THE proportion of people cycling to work in York has fallen over the past decade despite initiatives to encourage more on to their bikes.
• New row over York's parking camera-car NEW transport proposals that would render some of York's parking policies unlawful have been condemned by campaigners and city leaders.

Yorkshire Post

• Labour casts doubt on HS2 in new attack on rising costThere was fresh doubt over Labour’s commitment to HS2 last night after the Shadow Transport Secretary questioned whether the project is “the right way” to spend billions of pounds of public funds.

Crewe Chronicle

• Airport link-up for Visa firm Crewe firm will provide a service for both corporate and commercial travellers
• New report calls for HS2/Transport hub at CreweA SECOND major report has  backed HS2 and called for  the creation of a major strategic transport hub at  Crewe.

Doncaster Free Press

• Bucharest is latest destination from Doncaster’s Robin Hood AirportThe Romanian capital Bucharest has become the latest city to be added to the growing list of destinations from Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield.    

East Anglian Daily Times

• Needham Market: Concern over disabled access to fatal rail crossingA disabled charity has criticised proposals to build a footbridge over a railway line as it will create “far-reaching” problems for the community.

Reading Evening Post

• Rob Wilson MP: It is welcome news Crossrail is coming to Reading
• Crossrail route map: Reading to ShenfieldSee what the new Crossrail route looks like following the addition of Reading as a terminus this morning

The Shields Gazette

• New South Tyneside Metro and tram link-up plans revealedVILLAGES in South Tyneside could be linked up by the future Metro system under ambitions new plans.

Western Daily Press

• Time to take a new line on crucial Dawlish rail link Repairs to the storm-hit railway line at Dawlish in Devon are in their final phase with a reopening planned for next week. In this article, Modern Railways magazine argues that the long-term solution has to be a faster, inland route

Other Regional Press

• County cuts blamed for Craven bus service closurePennine Motor Services – which runs a fleet of 14 orange and black buses throughout Craven – will cease operating from May 16.
• Bombardier’s electric bus takes to the road in GermanyMONTREAL — Bombardier Inc.’s Primove electric-bus project made its first timid steps in the real world Thursday — in Germany. But the timing for the Montreal rollout of the high-tech system remains elusive.
• Railway finally set to reopen ’next week’AFTER weeks of round-the-clock work, Network Rail engineers are on track to reopen the full length of the Hastings to Tonbridge railway line to passengers early next week.
• Busway stop-off change victoryINDEPENDENT councillors have secured changes to a controversial public transport super-scheme.
• Sir Roger Gale confirms plans to buy Manston Airport to be made to owner Ann Gloag todayAn offer that could secure the future of more than a hundred workers at Manston Airport is likely to be made today, according to the area's MP.
• Traffic chiefs announce boldest plan in decades to free the city’s roads A multi-million pounds roads transport system is to be built in Canterbury - the most significant changes to the city's roads network in decades.

Global Rail News

• Northern franchise extended to 2016The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that Northern Rail will continue to operate rail services in the north of England until February 2016. The Direct Award will see Serco[...]
• Crossrail to run to ReadingCrossrail has extended its route west, with services set to now call at Twyford and Reading from 2019. Rather than terminating at Maidenhead, Crossrail will run two services an hour[...]
• Avenio trams to start dynamic testingAvenio trams destined for The Hague have left Siemens’ manufacturing facility in Vienna to begin dynamic testing. The first of 40 new trams is now on its way to the[...]
• Jobs to go at London Midland in restructuringLondon Midland is to cut 150 jobs as part of a restructuring plan designed to tackle rising costs. The operator has said the changes will focus on head office and[...]
• Alstom to equip Melbourne trains with new communications systemAlstom has won a contract to install a new radio-based communications system on Melbourne’s suburban X’Trapolis trains. Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) has commissioned Alstom to deliver a Digital Train Radio[...]
• Record-breaking passenger numbers for SBBSBB has recorded a significant fall in its net income in a record-breaking year for the operator. More than a million passengers travelled on Switzerland’s rail network in a single[...]
• Gatwick unveils improved rail links in second runway planArtist impressions of a new transport interchange at Gatwick have been released as the airport looks to smuggle away plans for an additional runway from Heathrow. Designs showing new rail[...]
• French infrastructure manager records loss in 2013French infrastructure manager Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) recorded a loss of €60 million in 2013 after experiencing a ’slowdown in railway activity’ across the country. Although turnover rose by[...]

Railnews

• London Midland cuts back office jobs London Midland has announced that it is cutting around 150 back office jobs, but has given an assurance that customer-facing staff will not be affected. The company said the reductions were necessary because of rising costs, and that a consultation would now be launched.
• Direct award extends Northern franchise The Department for Transport has revealed some of the terms of a new Direct Award to Abellio and Serco which will extend the Northern franchise until February 2016. The timing of the award is in line with the franchise programme published by the DfT last year, and has been co-signed by the five Passenger Transport Executives in Northern's area. Northern has agreed various improvements, including better facilities for ticket purchase, greater availability of advance tickets and more effective information systems.
• Crossrail to be extended to Reading Crossrail is being extended from Maidenhead to Twyford and Reading. The announcement from Transport for London and the Department for Transport has confirmed years of speculation that Maidenhead was not the ideal western terminus, particularly as Reading is a key hub on the Great Western network. Rail minister Stephen Hammond said Crossrail to Reading will make better use of the already congested Great Western Main Line, relesing capacity for further improvements including potential direct services from Reading to Heathrow.

Aviation Industry

• Why you shouldn't accept your airline's apologyIf you've experienced a recent flight delay or service disruption, then you probably know that for better or worse, no one says
• All Nippon Airways orders 70 new Airbus, Boeing aircraftAll Nippon Airways (ANA) announced it will place firm orders for 70 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft worth $16.4 billion at current list prices. Publication Info read more
• Ryanair in talks with Amadeus and SabreDeals expected to be in place from Autumn
• Easyjet and Gatwick agree seven-year dealAgreement underpins airline’s growth plans at Gatwick

Other News Sources

• New rail deal to electrify the northA new deal for rail services in the north has been awarded to Northern Rail to meet; targets for punctuality, reliability and passing satisfaction.
• MP backs opponents of 'monstrous' Network Rail bridge planResidents and MP come out against proposed bridge to replace footpath railway crossing, but Network Rail defends design
• HS2 could cost Brighton and Hove £6m Brighton and Hove’s economy could lose as much as £6 million a year if the high speed rail line HS2 goes ahead, it has been claimed.